Coil conveying apparatus



Dec. 23, 1952 c, FlELD 2,622,822

COIL CONVEYING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 18,, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

CROSBY FIELD FlG.4. W

A T TOQNE Y5.

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Divided and this application August 13, 1948, Serial No. 44,009

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for and methods of making metal wool and similar products. It constitutes an important step forward over apparatuses and methods of the types illustrated by my Patents Nos. 1,608,478 and 1,608,481. It is a division of myprior application Serial No. 697,750 filed September 18, 1946. The invention broadly set forth in said prior application pertains to methods and means for converting metal strip of substantial width into metal wool. The disclosure and claims of this divisional application have to do particularly with apparatus for feeding metalstrip to a steel wool manufacturing apparatus of a type disclosed in said prior application.

The usual method of making steel and similar metal wools today in the United States for commercial use comprises first the selection of a proper grade of steel; the grade is quite limited in its chemical and physical characteristics. The steel is specially cropped, rolled into rods, and then drawn in several passes into wire of No. 12 gauge, that is, approximately .106 in. in diameter. In this fashion cold working produces a steel wire that can readily be shaved by serrated knives, producing a chip of the strength and resiliency required. The chips thus obtained are called steel wool.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings, I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and suggested various modifications thereof; but it is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but on the contrary are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away of a strip winding mechanism embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 4; and.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale of a clamping construction used in the strip winding mechanism.

In order to feed metal strip to a steel wool machine of the type disclosed in said prior application a feed basket 488 (see Figures 1 and 2) is lowered to its position near the floor and a coil of strip S with its axis vertical is placed in it. A feed ring 4H] is attachedby screws M2 to feed basket 488 and the binding wires about the coil of strip S are cut. The coil immediately unwinds slightly on a feed plate 4l4 until its outer layer presses on feed rollers M6 held-in shafts 418 in turn held in bearings 428 in feed ring 418 and feed basket 408, respectively. The feed basket is then raised by a'winch 422 which winds cables 424 and 428 passing over sheaves 428. The sheaves are mounted in bushings 438 turning on shafts 432 held in brackets v434 by bolts 436, which bolts attach it to a top yoke 438 in turn attached to channel support Hill. In order to take up the lateral thrust I provide between top yoke 4'38 and a channel I68 (described in more detail in said prior application) angle braces 448.

Feed basket 483 carries bushings 442 which slide on pipe supports 444 and guide the feed hasket in its vertical motion. Supports 444 are mounted in flanges 446 which are held to the floor by means of foundation bolts 448. The top ends of supports 444 include plugs 45!! by means of which they are attachedto top yoke 438.

When feed basket 408 has been raised to a height where the top of feed plate M4 is even with the top of the rotor rim (described in more detail in said prior application), the motion is stopped and feed basket 408 is firmly supported in that location by holding clamps cooperating with supports 444. Each clamp (see Figures 3 and 4) consists of two U-shaped parts 452 and 454 linked together at one end by a pin 456. The other end is shaped to be drawn together by the action of a nut 458 on a locking bolt 46!]. Bolt 460 is free to turn about a pivot 462. The clamps are accurately leveled by pins 464 (see Figure 2) through selected holes 465 provided in supports 444. Thereafter nuts 458 are tightened on bolts 46!] so that the clamps are frictionally locked on the supports. The end of strip S is then taken by hand and its forward edge rested on the rotor rim and clamped in place ready for winding into a coil as disclosed in said prior application.

The rotor is then slowly inched until two or three turns have been placed on the rotor rim. Power is then turned on and the strip is wrapped on the rotor rim under tension created in two ways.

The first tension is that provided (see Figures 1 and 2) by a brake drum 476 offering a restraining force on feed plate M 1 as it rolls on rollers 418, which rollers operate in horizontal shafts aeaasas 480 held in feed basket 408 in holes bushed for that purpose. Feed plate 4| 4 is attached by rivets 482 to a hub 484, which hub is keyed to a shaft 486 rotating within bearings in feed basket 408 as the strip is wound on rotor rim 42. Shaft 488 carries at one end brake drum 416. The drum may be retarded by a brake strap 488. The tension between brake strap and brake drum is provided by a brake arm 490, the outer end of which is held by a holding screw 492 threaded into a hole tapped in feed basket 408.

Further guidance and the prevention of whipping are provided for by tension placed on the strip as it leaves between feed roller M6 and a roller 484 carried in a pivot arm 496. The free end of arm 496 is adjustably locked by a pin #88 which fits into holes drilled in feed ring 410.

From the foregoing it will be observed that wool cutting apparatus and methods embodying my invention are well adapted to attain the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth and to be economically manufactured and employed, since the separate features are well suited to common production methods and are subject to a variety of modifications as may be desirable in adapting the invention to different applications.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: v

1. Apparatus for feeding a coil of metal wool strip including: a feed plate rotatable about a vertical axis and adapted to support a horizontally disposed coil of metal strip, a feed basket rotatably carrying said feed plate, brake means operable between said feed plate and feed basket for controlling rotation of said feed plate with respect to said feed basket, vertically extending support means for supporting and guiding said feed basket and plate through a range of vertical movements, mean for raising and lowering said feed basket and plate with respect to said vertical 4 support means, and clamp means associated with said feed basket and said vertically extending support means and disposed to fix the vertical hei ht of said feed basket with respect to said vertically extending support means.

2. Apparatus for feeding a coil of metal wool strip including: supporting posts, a feed basket vertically movable upon said posts and disposed for carrying the coil of metal wool strip, feed roll means associated with said basket and vertically movable therewith and adapted and arranged to guide the strip as it is led from the coil, means for raising and lowering said feed basket and feed roll means, and clamping means adapted to cooperate with said posts for locking said feed basket at any desired level.

3. Apparatus for feeding a coil of metal wool strip including: supporting posts, a feed basket vertically movable upon said posts and disposed for carrying the coil of metal wool strip, feed roll means associated with said basket and vertically movable therewith and adapted and arranged to guide the strip as it is led from the coil, means for raising and lowering said feed basket and feed roll means, clamping means adapted to cooperate with said posts for locking said feed basket at any desired level, and alignment means for accurately leveling said clamping means.

CROSBY FIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 373,463 Lenox Nov. 22, 1887 383,686 Bansen May 29, 1888 440,573 Matteson Nov. 11, 1890 627,722 Edwards June 27, 1899 1,761,592 Seidel June 3, 1930 2,135,913 Ralston et al Nov. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 511,197 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1939 

